I had to do some light filing/sanding on all the internal friction points relating to the action of the slide after about 150 rounds through my new Phoenix .22 (the one in the pic) as it had seized up pretty bad. But after doing that, and racking the slide a hundred times while lubing it generously, it seems good. The 100 rounds I've shot through it since doing that were problem-free. I know that's no extended field test but it's what I have to report so far. I've read a few opinions/reports from Phoenix-owners on the net and they seem generally more positive than for other bargain guns. My feeling is that if you're willing to break it down and spruce up the internals, it can be decent though it's not meant to be a multi-thousands-of-rounds range gun.

Originally Posted by Popeye

Besides the Rugers & Browning Buckmark, that cheap little Phoenix [$120. with 2 mags]have been the only reliable .22lr handguns I've ever found to be 99% reliable... including revolvers.

Doesn't make sense.

I bought a used phoenix range kit after a friend of mine loaned me his to shoot. I had so much fun shooting it I had to get one. I could not believe how well his lil pistol shot. No jams or misfires at all.

I found a used Range kit which comes with the extra 5 inch barrel you can swap with the 3 inch barreled gun for $140.
I didn't think i was taking much of a chance with it at that price.

Just like my friends the gun shot any bulk ammo I put in it with no malfunctions. Fits in your pocket which you can't say of the Marks. Seems like there are a few of us with these cheap lil reliable accurate guns.

Good advice there. Learn your weapon thoroughly before loading up! Nothing like having the guy next to you at the range holding up his buddy's fully stoked Glock and asking politely if you know where the safety is! My two cents worth on pocket carry .22. The Beretta 21 is a sweet little shooter once you get the ammo figured out, and it is surprisingly accurate. Would I carry it for self defense. Only if I had to. Likewise the S@W 317 is a great little .22 with some extra capacity for a revolver, but, its still your basic J snubby, and I prefer my snubs in snag resistant internal or shrouded hammer form and .38+P. Now, if S@W were to come out with a "hammerless" .22 mag. revolver in the 442/642 configuration, and made it strong enough for 8 or 9 of those hotter new "varmint" loads, well, I might carry one on occasion. Or, I could be really nutso, buy a nice new 351PD 7-shooter .22 mag. for $800 plus, then pay my gunsmith to bob the hammer! NOT! Seriously, I love the double deuce and if you can place your shots under pressure more power to you. I know of at least one LEO who swears by them as a backup/going to the store piece.

If you were a perp, sure would ruin you day getting shot in the eye from a .22 plinker
JT

True Dat !

I bought a Firestorm (Bersa) 22lr about two months ago, have nearly 1000 rounds thru it with just a few fail to fire's. All but one of those fired on the next try. Great little gun!

Every since I've read some articles on the Phoenix 22LR pistol,out of curiosity, I've been looking around trying to locate a retailer, so I could hold one and check it out. I've still not found one or anyone that carries this pistol. Any major retailer carry this pistol? I know Academy doesn't. I'm sure not going to order one unless I can check it out first. Also will this pistol accept HP ammo? Thanks!
JT

Phoenix 22LR pistol - Google Search

http://www.phoenix-arms.com/

Phoenix: "I've been looking around trying to locate a retailer, so I could hold one and check it out. I've still not found one or anyone that carries this pistol."

FWIW, I got mine at a gun show... I've seen them around at the big shows... There's a "cheap handgun" seller at most bigger shows.

I've put about 1000 rounds through my Walther P22. I have put several brands through it including Remington, Winchester, CCI, American Eagle, and even some old Mohawks I had lying around. All fed fine with no jams or problems of any sort. With what I've seen so far, Walther is the finest 22LR handgun I have ever shot or owned. It isn't fussy about which brand name of round I put through it and is very accurate, even when dirty.

I love my Phoenix HP22. Bought it brand new back in 2001. I figure I've put around 3000 rounds through it. I've only had FTF and FTE with Winchester XP (non-jacketed hollowpoint). CCI, Fiocchi, Remington, and Winchester 333/555 are issue free.

I used to have a Sig Misquito...I sold it because it was junk. I'll probly never buy another .22 semi auto pistol, but if I do, it won't be a sig. When you take it apart, it is awkward and just seems to be a bad design. Yes I tried all kinds of different ammo, I keep it properly cleaned and lubed. It was just a malfunctioning piece of junk. Maybe I just got a lemon, or maybe this design is just junk. My brother has a Walter .22 he bought his wife and he loves it, says never any problems with it.

I just bought a browning buckmark plus stainless steel UDX and I must say IT IS AN EXCELLENT GUN!! This thing is a tackdriver. I might think about a scope in the future but I think I like it just the way it is. I tried to shoot the remington golden hollow points and it jammed about 3 to 4 time per magazine. Got some winchester wildcats and they feed fine butt the group was not tight. Bought some federal match grade, 325 per box, at walmart and the groups were tight!! Im going to try the more expensive stuff soon and see if I get the same results.

I only use cci minimags and have NEVER been disappointed

I ordered a Beretta Neos today. Bud's had a price I couldn't pass on. I shot my friend's Neos and have been watching the prices. $214 today at Bud's with free shipping. Add the $25 FFL fee and that's a bargain.

I love my 22's and I have carried 22 pistols. Out of 100 I will get one failure to feed. My center fire pistols never malfunction. My main cw is a center fire but not for the caliber but for reliability.

Well I finally found a Phoenix 22A at gun show in late Feb. So far so good, I need to fix safety issue down to only one(want to keep it to where warranty isn't voided). I'm running various brands of ammo to see which it likes best. Safty's are a PITA still gettting to know pistol, read manual. At 15 yards I can keep shots in a head size target. Far from a high end handgun but I wanted a plinker, I can shoot anytime I want where I live. Pistol looks like a Walther P22 but so do some other 22 handguns.
JT

I purchased my M&P22 about (6) weeks ago and have put just over 1000 rounds thru it with only (2) FTE's. I highly recommend this handgun!!!

Originally Posted by JTEX53

Every since I've read some articles on the Phoenix 22LR pistol,out of curiosity, I've been looking around trying to locate a retailer, so I could hold one and check it out. I've still not found one or anyone that carries this pistol. Any major retailer carry this pistol? I know Academy doesn't. I'm sure not going to order one unless I can check it out first. Also will this pistol accept HP ammo? Thanks!
JT

I would try online. I do know (Fin Feather and Fur Outfitters) sells them if you have on in your area.

You can also get one from
Cheaper Then Dirt Guns - Buy Pistols, Rifles & Shotguns Online at Discount Prices
You will have to call to get an eta on when they will be arriving again, or you can call Phoenix Arms to ask them when they will shipping more out.

Here is a list of other online retailers that sell them
https://www.google.com/search?q=phon...40e1c25aedeb6f

I would try to find the deluxe range kit because it comes with a 3 inch and 5 inch barrel, cleaning kit etc. for like $180.00 (NIB)

If you order online all you got to do is go to a local dealer that does an FFA and it usually costs $25.00 to do, and you will give that paperwork to the online retailer. Once you do that they will ship it to your dealer, and you can pick it up.

If you got a little extra cash I recommend the Beretta U22 Neos. It is a really dependable gun, and you can get accessories like rubber incert grip, sights, and barrels up to 7" long. It comes with a 4.5" barrel, 2 clips, case, and lock which depending on the state a lock it always required nowadays with a new gun.



Here is what it looks like with the grey incert grip


Here is the rifle add on you can purchase for it. It turns your gun into a rifle. Sweetness


You can get the U22 Neos for $229.00 (NIB) which is what I paid. Here is the link for accessories like grip, sights etc...
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I don't have any experience with Phoenix Arms, but I was considering it because they have it have Fin Feather & Fur for $130.00 (NIB)

Originally Posted by JTEX53

Well I finally found a Phoenix 22A at gun show in late Feb. So far so good, I need to fix safety issue down to only one(want to keep it to where warranty isn't voided). I'm running various brands of ammo to see which it likes best. Safty's are a PITA still gettting to know pistol, read manual. At 15 yards I can keep shots in a head size target. Far from a high end handgun but I wanted a plinker, I can shoot anytime I want where I live. Pistol looks like a Walther P22 but so do some other 22 handguns.
JT

I like Walther. Smith & Wesson actually contracted Walther to make the M&P22 for them. It's the best of both worlds. Basically not many differences from the M&P9MM. The M&P22 might be my next gun after the M&P15-22 - A1 Style Comp.

When I started purchasing guns again after nearly 20 years I went ahead and got two Beretta Neos - one 4.5" and one 6". I enjoy shooting them, but even better is they are easy enough to use and the grip is small enough that they are perfect for taking my kids to the range on "Young Guns" night. My son at 13 uses the larger one and is getting to be a good shot, and my 9 year old daughter just put 5 in a row through the bulls eye at 7 yards. Both have been totally dependable. Both my wife and I got Bersa .380's as carry weapons, but that damn ammo is pricey, so I got us both Bersa .22's since it's almost the exact same gun. Now we'll shoot a couple boxes each of the .380's to keep the feel, but then be able to switch over to shooting hundreds of rounds through the .22's to gain proficiency. And the only real difference is the lack of kick - the pistols are on the exact same frame. The only problem I have ever had with either the Beretta's or Bersa's is an occasional dud round. They have all been great to shoot with no mechanical failures.

And they get cleaned EVERY time we use them - they gunk up fast. Both are 10+1, although the Neos is not a carry weapon by any stretch of the imagination. I'd carry the Bersa .22 as a back-up anytime. Obviously they have no "stopping power" but then again, even thugs don't really want to get shot.

I have a Sig Mosquito that I shoot regularly for practice. I really like it for that. I would not carry it for protection. Aside from the caliber issue, I have occasional failures to feed and stove pipes, and want something closer to 100% reliable if -God forbid!- I ever have to use it. My carry gun is a Glock 23, which has never failed to function properly for me. I tried the Advantage Arms .22lr conversion kit on my Glock. It was jamming for one reason or another every few rounds, even with the recommended CCI MiniMags. I tried another conversion kit, as well, and it was just as bad. That's when I decided to go with the Sig instead, and I am really glad I did.

Originally Posted by wahsben

Unfortunatly 22's seem to be some of the fussiest of firearms when it comes to ammo.

I'm sure it's partly the firearms, but I think it's also the nature of rimfire ammo, especially the bulk stuff. Instead of having a well-defined pocket for the primer, it gets distributed in the rim and with the cheaper stuff the spread is uneven. Amazing variability all around. Not just a matter that the S&W 22A likes something different from the Ruger Mk III - YOUR 22A likes something different from MY 22A etc.

I have a couple of Beretta 948 22lr's. Only had a chance to fire one. It jammed. Then I figured out the top of the mag was tweaked. I tapped it a bit and the gun has worked flawlessly since. It's a great little gun. Super easy to break down and clean, built to last a century, incredibly accurate for a 50+ year old gun. I bought another and can't wait to test it next week.

Another neat 22 I picked up is a Unique 52. French made, it is possibly the sturdiest 22 pistol ever made. Has a nice size grip too, if you have big hands.
I am looking forward to shooting it, haven't had a chance yet.

I have a Ruger Mark 1. The original mag works flawlessly but not so the newly issued "factory" mags. I will probably upgrade the recoil spring to see if it helps.

I have a Magnum Research Mountain Eagle. It's a great shooter but the plastic Ramline mags are scarce and pricey for NOS. I figured out how to repair
the chipped lips on one using epoxy and working very carefully. Nice lightweight pistol and nicely engineered. Sleeker than the similar Exactor models.

Finally I have an original Whitney Wolverine. It looks and works like new, but I bought it as an investment so after cleaning it I stored it in the safe.
I just wish I could have afforded one of the chrome ones. The Holy Grail of 22 pistols.